About the Young Artist Competition
The Young Artist Competition is open to high school contestants from New Hampshire or the Seacoast region of Maine and Massachusetts (from Beverly to York) performing on orchestral instruments (including saxophone, guitar and piano) who have not formerly been winners of the competition.
Those selected as finalists perform before a live audience at Riverwoods Retirement Community (the Woods campus) in Exeter. The winner performs their solo concerto, accompanied by the PSO at the final mainstage performance of the season at The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH.
How to apply:
- Complete the online form
- Submit video link of contestant with accompaniment
- Sealed letter of recommendation from current or most recent instructor (email from instructor is acceptable)
- $25 non-refundable application fee made out to Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (application fee can be waived; if in need please contact PSO)
Applicant must perform a single movement or equivalent (approximate guideline: 8-12 minutes) of a concerto with standard orchestra. The orchestral accompaniment must be available on IMSLP. Please email with questions about these requirements.
Postmarked or emailed no later than TBD, 2024, to:
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra
Attn: Competition
PO Box 8391,
Portsmouth, NH 03802
All video submissions will be viewed by a panel of judges and selected finalists will perform live at Riverwoods for the judges on Saturday, April 15.
Congratulations to 2022’s winner, Sean Jang
Congratulations to the 2022 winner of the Young Artist Competition, Sean Jang and to the honorable mention, Hannah Rubin. Sean will be performing the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius with the Portsmouth Symphony on June 5 at the Music Hall.
We would also like to congratulate everyone who participated in the Young Artist Competition in 2022
